diff --git a/tests/t1200-pri.sh b/tests/t1200-pri.sh
index 3d4ca70..7c6fe0c 100755
--- a/tests/t1200-pri.sh
+++ b/tests/t1200-pri.sh
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ TODO: 4 added.
 TODO: 4 of 4 tasks shown
 EOF
 
+test_todo_session 'priority error' <<EOF
+>>> todo.sh pri 10 B
+=== 1
+TODO: No task 10.
+EOF
+
 cat > todo.txt <<EOF
 (B) smell the uppercase Roses +flowers @outside
 (C) notice the sunflowers
diff --git a/todo.sh b/todo.sh
index a7b5e82..1357c20 100755
--- a/todo.sh
+++ b/todo.sh
@@ -1138,7 +1138,14 @@ note: PRIORITY must be anywhere from A to Z."
     [[ "$item" = +([0-9]) ]] || die "$errmsg"
     [[ "$newpri" = @([A-Z]) ]] || die "$errmsg"
 
-    oldpri=$(sed -ne $item's/^(\(.\)) .*/\1/p' "$TODO_FILE")
+    todo=$(sed "$item!d" "$TODO_FILE")
+    [ -z "$todo" ] && die "TODO: No task $item."
+
+    oldpri=
+    if [[ "$todo" = \(?\)\ * ]]; then
+        oldpri=${todo:1:1}
+    fi
+
     if [ "$oldpri" != "$newpri" ]; then
         sed -i.bak -e $item"s/^(.) //" -e $item"s/^/($newpri) /" "$TODO_FILE"
     fi